Combination of book matches and toothpicks



March 30, 1943. MAR'ESCA AL 2,315,438 COMBINATION OF Book MATCHES AND TOOTHPICKS Filed June 15, 1940 INVEIjgORS Giaseppq ares-c4 ioxlarun Aamorae ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 30, 1943 warren star-gee COMBINATiON or BOOK MATCHES AND TOOTHPICKS Giuseppe Maresca, Jackson Heights, Ni 1 and 7 Giovanni Pannone, Waterbury, Conn.

Appiication June 15, 194-0, Serial No. 340,658

2 Claims. (Cl. 206-29) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combination of book matches and tooth picks.

The invention has for an object the construction of an article as mentioned which is characterized by a conventional book of matches provided with a sheet of tooth picks mounted within the cover thereof, and adjacent the matches in a manner so that one tooth pick may be removed at a time, as desired.

Still further the invention proposes the provision of means for separating the matches from the tooth picks in a sanitary fashion.

Still further the invention contemplates the use of Cellophane, or other similar sheet material, arranged to comprise the sanitary separating means referred to in the previous paragraph.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combination of book matches and tooth picks constructed in accordance with, this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the sheet of tooth picks used in the article, and illustrated per se.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating the parts in different positions.

The combination of book matches and tooth picks, in accordance with this invention, includes sheets of paper matches l9 disposed within a cover ll having an openable front portion H.- A sheet of tooth picks I2 is disposed within the cover it adjacent the sheets of matches 16. A sheet of sanitary material It separates the tooth picks and the matches. A staple 14 engages through the sheets of matches and tooth picks. the sanitary sheet l3, and the cover I l for bolding the parts together as a unit.

The sheets of matches ii] are of conventional construction formed from cardboard in the usual way. The cover H is of sheet cardboard, and

in addition to the openable front portion l I, has a back portion H which at its bottom end continues into a front flange portion II 5 extending upwards over the bottom edges of the sheets of matches ID. This flange portion ll is provided with the usual match striking material IS. The sheet of tooth picks l2 comprises a thin sheet of wood having a transverse base portion Ii from which the tooth picks proper l2 project. The arrangement permits the tooth picks proper l2 to be broken off from the base l2 when it is desired to remove them for use.

A second sanitary sheet I3 is used to separate the cover H from the tooth picks l2. This sanitary sheet [3' has a top portion It which is bent over the top ends of the tooth picks proper l2 and which continues into an upwardly extending end portion I3 A narrow strip of metal I6 is attached along the end portion I3, and has each end projecting from a side of the cover II, and continuing into a hook portion I 6 which slidablyengages the edge of the cover II. The upper ends of the tooth picks [2 are disposed behind the upwardly bent end portion l3. Thus the upper ends of the tooth picks which are intended to be used to pick particles from the teeth are encased in the top portion of the sheet l3 and are maintained in a sanitary condition.

When the cover H is opened by moving upwards the front openable end H and the strip I6 is moved upwards on the cover H to a position as indicated in Fig. '7 in which the bent portion I3 is located above the top ends of the tooth pick portions IZ then a tooth pick may now be removed from the package. The strip l6 may be slipped downwards to place the parts back into the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the upper ends of the remaining tooth picks are again protected.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications I: coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A combination of book matches and tooth picks, comprising a sheet of paper matches, a cover encasing said matches and having an openable end portion, a sheet of tooth picks within said cover and adjacent said matches, a sheet of sanitary material separating said tooth picks and matches, a. staple holding said matches, tooth picks and sanitary sheet on said cover, and a set-in sanitary sheet separating said cover and tooth picks and being secured within said cover by said staple, one of said sanitary sheets having a top edge portion engaging over the top ends of said tooth picks, and means for holding said edge portion in a lowered position engaged over the tooth picks or in a raised position moved free of the tooth picks, comprising a strip attached on 10 said edge portion and having hook elements at its ends slidably engaged on the edges of said cover.

2. A book of matches having a cover encasing a sheet of paper matches, a sheet of toothpicks within said cover adjacent said matches, a sheet tion in which the top ends of said toothpicks are free to be individually separated from said sheet of toothpicks.

GIUS EPPE MARESCA. GIOVANNI PANNONE. 

